History

The history curriculum helps students attain a sense of the richness of human cultures, develop an informed appreciation of arts, religions and philosophies in their historical contexts, and examine major political and intellectual developments through a solid grounding in what has traditionally been called Western civilization. In the ninth grade, students begin a three-year concentration on Greco-Roman, European, and American civilizations, and the parallel evolution and influences of other cultures.

Students learn to interpret culture by concentrating on close reading, often of original texts, and expository writing. The scale of the writing projects is graduated, beginning with shorter assignments with emphasis on sentence and paragraph structure and advancing to full-scale research papers by grade eleven.

HI25: Ancient History (Grade 9)

This course adopts a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of the ancient cultures of Greece, Rome, and early Christianity. Rather than rely primarily on a textbook, students spend a great deal of time learning to read and understand a variety of primary sources that supply the basic course material. The literature and art of these cultures are considered as expressions of individual genius, as reflections of culture, and as foundations for later developments in human civilization. Students read selections from Homer, Hesiod, and Greek lyric poetry. Readings from Herodotus accompany a treatment of the development of Athenian democracy and a comparison of Athens and Sparta and the causes and events of the Persian Wars. The drama, art, and architecture of fifth-century Athens are covered, along with the philosophical teachings of Plato and Aristotle, and the life and death of Socrates. Students examine the origins and development of the Roman Republic and focus on the fall of the Republic and transition to Empire under Augustus. Readings from Livy, Horace, and Virgil express national pride in past achievements and Augustan aspirations for renewal. Life in the Roman Empire is revealed through selections from Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, Petronius, and a host of Roman poets, as well as by the enduring and influential works of Roman art, architecture, and engineering. The beginnings of Christianity in the context of the Roman Empire and its decline are examined through selections from Augustine and the Old and New Testaments.

HI45: The Development of Modern Europe (Grade 10)

This course covers the major political, cultural, and intellectual developments of Western Europe from the early Middle Ages to the French Revolution. Students trace the development of Christianity and Medieval Europe; the political and artistic innovations of the Renaissance; the Protestant Reformation and the Wars of Religion; the development of capitalism and colonialism; the scientific revolution; the monarchial revolution; the Enlightenment; and the French Revolution. The scope of the course is wide, concerned as much with literature, art, architecture, science, and philosophy as with political and military history. Students use primary sources whenever possible, reading large portions of such central authors as Augustion, Averroës, Dante, Machiavelli, Luther, Descartes, Locke, Newton, Voltaire, and Rousseau.

HI65: American History (Grade 11)

This course focuses on the history of the United States within the larger context of the development of the modern West. It begins with the arrival of the first English colonists in 1607 and follows America’s emergence as the supreme Western power in the twentieth century. Students study America’s political, social, and religious beliefs, practices, and institutions, and compare these to those of Great Britain and Western Europe. Careful consideration is paid to the unique conditions that characterize American life: racial and ethnic diversity, geographic mobility, and bursts of large-scale immigration. Course materials include primary and secondary sources. Students develop their historical imaginations, improve their writing and research skills, and learn how historical arguments and interpretations are constructed. While the emphasis is on the analytical essay, additional assignments include a research paper in conjunction with the American literature course.